The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed that 10 films are in final contention for the Excellence in Visual Effects Oscar. The 10 films are as follows:

• “Captain America: The First Avenger”
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
• “Hugo”
• “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”
• “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”
• “Real Steel”
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
• “The Tree of Life”
• “X-Men: First Class”

All members of the Visual Effects Branch will be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the 10 shortlisted films on Thursday, January 19. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II has been nominated for an Art Directors Guild award. It has been nominated for Excelence in Production Design for a Feature Film in 2011 under the Fantasy category.  It is up against:

• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret Unicorn
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
• Cowboys & Aliens

It will also receive this year’s Art Directors Guild Cinematic Imagery Award. That award will be presented to the principal team behind the Harry Potter films including Producers David Heyman and David Barron; Director David Yates; creator and author J.K. Rowling; Screenwriter Steve Kloves; Production Designer Stuart Craig; Art Director Neil Lamont; and Set Decorator Stephenie McMillan.

MTV has released their top 10 movie scenes of 2011 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II has taken the top spot with “Harry’s Long Walk:”

Eight films and over a decade later, it all came down to this: Harry taking that long walk of no-shame towards Voldemort, fully accepting his impending demise as a necessary means to ending his nemesis’ reign of terror once and for all. Of course, it didn’t shake out quite that simply, but Harry’s willingness to die for the greater good was proof positive of how much the “Potter” films grew and matured since “The Sorcerer’s Stone.” — J.W.

Other films that made the list include Bridesmaids, Breaking Dawn: Part I, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Drive and more!

As I posted back in October, a new version of ITV’s 50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments aired this past weekend and the new list is now online and may be read below! Since there are new moments other moments have changed places or even been removed. Click here to see the original 50 Greatest Moments from July.

50. The First Meeting Between the Trio on the Train – Philosopher’s Stone
49. The First Glimpse of the Ministry of Magic – Order of the Phoenix
48. Ron’s Howler – Chamber of Secrets
47. The Mirror of Erised – Philosopher’s Stone
46. Dancing in the Tent – Deathly Hallows Part 1
45. Dobby’s Arrival – Chamber of Secrets
44. Dementor’s on the Train – Prisoner of Azkaban
43. Harry and Ron in the Flying Ford Anglia – Chamber of Secrets
42. Neville Defends Hogwarts on the Bridge – Deathly Hallows Part 2
41. Sirius Black and Harry – Prisoner of Azkaban
40. Harry and Ron’s Dispute – Deathly Hallows Part 1
39. Pesky Pixie’s of the Cornish Variety – Chamber of Secrets
38. Lupin Turns into a Werewolf – Prisoner of Azkaban
37. Harry and Cho’s First Kiss – Order of the Phoenix
36. Harry’s Left at Privet Drive – Philosopher’s Stone
35. The Yule Ball – Goblet of Fire
34. Aunt Marge’s Comeuppance – Prisoner of Azkaban
33. Owls Deliver Harry’s Hogwarts Letters – Philosopher’s Stone
32. Harry Returns with Cedric’s Dead Body – Goblet of Fire
31. Dolores Umbridge Punishes Harry – Order of the Phoenix
30. Snape vs. McGonagall – Deathly Hallows Part 2
29. Dumbledore Drinks the Potion in the Cave – Half-Blood Prince
28. Fred and George’s Firework Display – Order of the Phoenix
27. The Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake – Goblet of Fire
26. Harry Summons His Patronus to Save Sirius – Prisoner of Azkaban
25. The Chess Room – Philosopher’s Stone
24. Harry Gets His Wand – Philosopher’s Stone
23. Dementors in the Underpass – Order of the Phoenix
22. Ron Takes the Love Potion – Half-Blood Prince
21. Sirius Black is Murdered – Order of the Phoenix
20. Ron Returns and Destroys the Horcrux – Deathly Hallows Part 1
19. Lord Volemort is Reborn – Goblet of Fire
18. The Arrival of Beauxbatons – Goblet of Fire
17. Bathilda Bagshot/Nagini – Deathly Hallows Part 1
16. The Sorting Ceremony – Philosopher’s Stone
15. Buckbeak the Hippogriff – Prisoner of Azkaban
14. Molly Weasley Kills Bellatrix – Deathly Hallows Part 2
13. Harry vs. Voldemort: The First Battle – Goblet of Fire
12. Hagrid Arrives to Rescue Harry – Philosopher’s Stone
11. Harry’s First Quidditch Match – Philosopher’s Stone
10. Platform 9 ¾ – Philosopher’s Stone
09. Dobby’s Death – Deathly Hallows Part 1
08. Hermione Hits Draco – Prisoner of Azkaban
07. Harry’s First Visit to Diagon Alley – Philosopher’s Stone
06. Voldemort vs. Dumbledore – Order of the Phoenix
05. The Death of Dumbledore – Half-Blood Prince
04. Ron and Hermione’s Kiss – Deathly Hallows Part 2
03. Snape’s Death – Deathly Hallows Part 2
02. Harry vs. Voldemort: The Final Battle – Deathly Hallows Part 2
01. The First Sight of Hogwarts – Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is one 97 original scores that are eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award. The score was by Alexandre Desplat who is also in the running with Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and The Ides of March. To be eligible, the original score must be a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring, and must be written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer. Scores diluted by the use of tracked themes or other preexisting music, diminished in impact by the predominant use of songs, or assembled from the music of more than one composer shall not be eligible.

The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

SOME other original scores in the running are:

• “The Adjustment Bureau,” Thomas Newman, composer
• “The Adventures of Tintin,” John Williams, composer [John composed the first 3 Harry Potter films]
• “African Cats,” Nicholas Hooper, composer [Nicholas composed the first Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & Half-Blood Prince]
• “Anonymous,” Thomas Wander and Harald Kloser, composers
• “Another Earth,” Phil Mossman and Will Bates, composers
• “Captain America: The First Avenger,” Alan Silvestri, composer
• “Dolphin Tale,” Mark Isham, composer
• “Fast Five,” Brian Tyler, composer
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers
• “The Help,” Thomas Newman, composer
• “Hugo,” Howard Shore, composer
• “J. Edgar,” Clint Eastwood, composer
• “Jane Eyre,” Dario Marianelli, composer
• “Puss in Boots,” Henry Jackman, composer
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” Patrick Doyle, composer [Patrick also composed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]
• “The Rum Diary,” Christopher Young, composer
• “Super 8,” Michael Giacchino, composer
• “Thor,” Patrick Doyle, composer [Patrick also composed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]
• “War Horse,” John Williams, composer [John composed the first 3 Harry Potter films]
• “Water for Elephants,” James Newton Howard, composer
• “Winnie the Pooh,” Henry Jackman, composer
• “Young Adult,” Rolfe Kent, composer

A short while ago Digital Spy asked their readers to vote on their favorite films of 2011 and those votes are now in!  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II has been voted as the best film with 25% of the vote! Coming in behind the final Potter film are The Inbetweeners Movie – 13.1%, The King’s Speech – 11.5%, Bridesmaids – 10.0%, and Black Swan – 5.8%.